This study evaluates the application of an eye tracking device in nursing education. An experiment is designed to test the effectiveness of the eye tracking device used as a tool for providing instructional feedback in error identification and recovery by nursing students undertaking tasks in a simulated clinical setting. This experiment is performed on three groups of nursing students. In the first phase, all groups are tested in a simulated clinical scenario and their eye movements are recorded using an eye tracking device. In the second phase, the evaluation only group (control group) gets instructors’ feedback regarding their performance without referring back to the eye tracker record. The eye tracker only group (experimental group A) is provided with a video of their eye movements which was recorded during their first simulated exercise, but receives no feedback from the instructors. The combined group (experimental group B) is provided with both instructors’ evaluations and their eye movement video. Finally, in the last phase, all the groups are tested once again in the simulated clinical settings. Their performance is observed and compared to determine their relative improvements. Based on these improvements, it will be possible to determine whether an eye tracking device by itself or in combination with evaluation serves as a helpful instructional source during nursing education.

This research generated a model that will help to predict, prevent, control and mitigate the occurrence of task related factors that negatively influence stress, fatigue, and workload; thus enhancing human performance. Past research efforts involving stress, fatigue and workload identified factors that influence a change in performance (Lan, Ji and Looney, 2003, and Hancock & Warm, 1989). Also, while some mathematical models have been developed within each respective area, however, there is no evidence of an integrated model describing the combined affect of stress, fatigue and workload. To respond to this research gap, a quantitative model representing the state of stress, fatigue and workload experienced under task conditions was developed. This model was derived using fuzzy set theory with data inputs from both objective and subjective measures such as heart rate, NASA TLX, blood pressure and a variety of additional factors. The resultant mathematical model included both subjective and objective measures that can be collected in an occupational environment. Control rooms at the flight centers for large space craft were utilized to validate the quantitative model developed in this research. Data was gathered during launch simulation exercises. Fuzzy Set Theory was applied to develop the mathematical model to describe the changes in stress, fatigue and workload. FST provides a means to model many real-world environments.

Over many decades, vigilance research has consistently found that performance on vigilance tasks decline over time (i.e., the vigilance decrement; Davies & Parasuraman, 1982), and that performing a vigilance task is both mentally demanding and stressful (Warm et al., 2008). Researchers have subsequently implemented a wide range of interventions to both understand and attempt to attenuate the vigilance decrement and its associated affective effects. Among these efforts, little attention has been devoted to understanding the effects of the social environment on vigilance. Nonetheless, a handful of studies have indeed suggested that the presence of others can affect performance, workload, and stress in vigilance. The present dissertation sought to extend these findings by examining the effect of social support on vigilance, a novel form of social presence in vigilance research, based on findings that the provision of social support may improve performance on cognitive tasks. 236 participants were randomly assigned to complete a cognitive vigilance task either alone or in one of seven social presence conditions: supportive or non-supportive observer, supportive or non-supportive co-actor, independent co-actor, evaluative observer, or merely present observer. Regarding the novel supportive and non-supportive manipulations, results indicated that receiving non-supportive statements resulted in a more conservative response bias than supportive statements, but that receiving supportive statements resulted in higher perceived effort. Additionally, receiving statements from a co-actor, regardless of the type of statement, resulted in higher median response times. In comparing the novel manipulations to existing manipulations of social presence in vigilance, participants in the non-supportive observer condition outperformed those in the independent co-actor and mere presence conditions. The results of this dissertation thus imply that verbal interactions during vigilance tasks – and the supportive or non-supportive nature of those interactions – can affect performance and workload differently than non-verbal forms of social presence.

Problem-solving ability is now the most sought-after trait in up-and-coming executives, according to a survey of 1 000 executives conducted by Caliper Associates, reported in the Wall Street Journal by Hal Lancaster (Hoenig, 2002:338). This trait would include the ability to solve human performance problems, something many people tend to steer clear of. According to Piskurich (2002:57-58) and Rothwell, Hohne and King (2000:67-71), the most common problem-solving tools that are used when solving human performance problems are brainstorming, cause-and-effect analysis, and the five why’s technique. Although techniques such as these have proven to be robust and useful, what is required to solve human performance problems is a logical and verifiable process that can establish a data point about which relevant information can be recognized and gathered, and against which the conclusion can be evaluated, to have confirmed knowledge of the root cause of the problems. Unfortunately, existing root cause analysis processes tend to focus on processes and systems, rather than on individual performance (Bowling, 2003). The main objective of this study was to develop a root cause analysis process that would uncover the root cause(s) of uncontrolled variation(s) in human performance and prevent the recurrence of events causing the variation. In addition to addressing individual human performance incidents, it is also necessary continually to manage people’s performance to detect and address any occurrences (or recurrences) of performance variations. Therefore, in addition to the main objective, the study also aimed to develop a Human Performance Management Model that incorporated the root cause analysis process as a problem-solving tool. Action research was used in this study, because of the cyclical iterative nature of this type of research, and because it is a rigorous, responsive and flexible process. The study consisted of three cycles. The end result was a structured root cause analysis process – the Human Performance Variation Analysis (HPVA) process – that enables the systematic collection of valid and reliable information, as is required to solve variation in human performance. The HPVA process is a three-part process that consists of 11 steps. The process is in turn a tool that forms part of a ten-step Human Performance Management Model. The study contributes to the body of knowledge on human performance management by presenting the following: • a systematic root cause analysis process that uncovers the root causes of human performance problems effectively and consistently and that controls these causes of problems in a way that prevents the problems from recurring; and • a Human Performance Management Model that will help to sustain the new, improved performance; prevent the same or similar performance problem(s) in other areas of the organisation; and ultimately, create an environment and culture of continuous human performance improvement. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2009. / Human Resource Management / unrestricted

Managing safety at a nuclear power plant is about a complex system with demanding technology under time pressure where the cost of failure is exceptionally high. Swedish nuclear power plants have over the last few years introduced Pre-job Briefing and other so called Human Performance Tools to advert errors and strengthen control. By using the Systemic Resilience Model different views of safety are taken to understand the origin of the signals that leads to a Pre-job Briefing, and how the signal is interpreted, re-interpreted, and presented. The study took place at a Swedish nuclear power plant and included four days of observations and 20 interviewees. The thematic analysis shows a similarity between mentioned origins of Pre-job Briefings and the intended use of Pre-job Briefing. Characteristics of a High Reliability Organisation is shown in practice by a culture of that one will to have a Pre-job Briefing is enough, that sharp end workers is used as a valuable resource for safety and a systematic support to screen jobs over time without influencing non-job related factors. The signals acted upon matched well with the intended, and personnel get several opportunities to evaluate the signals together, striving for best possible circumstances. The Systemic Resilience Model was successfully applied together with a thematic analysis, which strengthens its validity as a holistic model that combines different views of safety in one coherent model. SyRes allowed to present additional themes, leaving the question at what stage SyRes is optimally implemented in a thematic analysis.

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<p>The purpose of our master thesis was to investigate what motivates assembly line workers performing low-skill jobs in a small industrial laundry business. We wanted to see what fac-tors determine and influence their motivation to work and if and how this motivation can be improved with respect to assembly line systems in general. The method of our investiga-tion was qualitative in nature, where we studied one firm that leases clean bed clothes and textiles to hotels and restaurants around Sweden. We constructed a survey on motivation and handed it out to the assembly line workers who deal with the laundry. Furthermore, we interviewed the shift manager in order to get the company’s view on employee motivation. Our findings indicate that there are several overlapping factors that determine and influ-ence motivation in the long run. From this particular case we saw that a unified working culture and collective efforts both boost the willingness to work and help the process run smoothly. Furthermore, proper communication is motivating, where everyone should be committed to company goals, but the workers should be able to take part in profits, and not just generate them. Also, employees have to be considered as important as customers are. Another factor is to have the right resources to execute company plans, such as proper working techniques that minimise stress, injuries and frustration, and more responsibility that allows employees to see the whole system by learning about the technical aspects, or engaging in customer contacts. When trust builds up between the workers and the man-agement, there will be less need for a controlling boss, and people will be more motivated to work when they are not constantly monitored by their leader. In addition, more CEO visits are encouraged at plant level, because they send the signal that the company cares about all its employees. Finally, a crucial factor is feedback, where the firm should not only criticise, but praise everyone for a job well done. This way, the workers will feel worthy. When long term factors are weak or missing in the company, the only motivation for the people is money. However, money can work as a short term and a long term motivator be-cause it serves as a tool to satisfy needs of both security and self esteem outside work. Con-sidering motivation and assembly lines in general, when the assembly line is at its core, where efficiency is the goal and workers serve as means to get there, the only motivation is money, and possibly working colleagues. Intrinsic motivation can be reached by moving away from the actual system and performing other tasks. Still, the long term factors can improve the situation to a certain extent, but sooner or later everyone will turn into a well oiled machine with no further ways to improve motivation, since boredom and routines will remain. One goes from being a cog in the machinery to an integral part of a successful engine. It is still the same content, but in a different package.</p>

Designing user-interfaces so that first-time or infrequent users can accomplish their goals by exploration has been an enduring challenge in Human-Computer Interaction. Iterative user-testing is an effective but costly method to develop user-interfaces that support use through exploration. A complementary method is to use modeling tools that can generate predictions of user exploration given a user-interface and a goal description. Recent computational models of goal-directed user exploration have focused on predicting user exploration of websites and demonstrated how predictions can inform user-interface design. These models employ the common concepts of label following and information scent: that the user's choice is partly determined by the semantic relevance between the user's goal and the options presented in the user-interface. However, in addition to information scent, other factors including the layout position and grouping of options in the user-interface also affect user exploration and the likelihood of success. This dissertation contributes a new model of goal-directed user exploration, called CogTool- Explorer, which considers the layout position and the grouping of options in the user-interface in concert with a serial evaluation visual search process and information scent. Tests show that predictions from CogTool-Explorer match participant data better than alternative models that do not consider layout position and grouping. This dissertation work has also integrated the CogTool- Explorer model into an existing modeling tool, called CogTool, making it easier for other researchers and practitioners to setup and generate predictions of likely user exploration paths and task performance using CogTool-Explorer.

O objetivo da presente dissertação é avaliar o comportamento biomecânico, fisiológico e o processo de instauração da fadiga durante a após o Running Anaerobic Sprint Test (RAST). Participaram do estudo 16 voluntários (média ± desvio padrão; 22,1 ± 3,1 anos, massa corporal de 78,6 ± 22,9 kg e 186,1 ± 10,1 cm de estatura). Os participantes foram submetidos a monitoramento biomecânico e fisiológico, bem como avaliações neuromusculares. Em todos os casos foi feito um aquecimento com duração de 5 min. Após 120 s do aquecimento os indivíduos realizaram seis esforços máximos de 35 m separados por intervalos passivos de 10 s (RAST). Durante os esforços, duas câmeras captaram o desempenho por análise cinemática bidimensional enquanto que mais 12 câmeras foram posicionadas para análise cinemática tridimensional nos dez metros finais de cada esforço, durante e após os esforços foram determinadas as concentrações de lactato ([Lac]). A técnica de Twitch Interpolation (TIP) foi utilizada para as avaliações neuromusculares. O desempenho apresentou diferença a partir do quinto (5,1 ± 0,1 s) esforço, juntamente com os modelos de índice de decaimento do desempenho (IF% 19,2 ± 9,4%; IFREAL 19,3 ± 10,9%;). As [Lac] do quarto esforço (6,1 ± 1,9 mM) foram diferentes de todas as outras (p < 0,01). Apenas o tempo de fase aérea (TF) do quinto esforço (0,16 ± 0,03 s) foi diferente em relação ao primeiro e segundo esforço (0,12 ± 0,01 s; 0,13 ± 0,02 s; p < 0,05. Neste caso o RAST oferece estabilização do desempenho e da mecânica independentemente da [Lac]. Para o estudo dois, quando testadas as correlações com o desempenho, o tempo mínimo (TMin) (4,43 ± 0,37 s) interagiu negativamente com o desvio padrão da altura do centro de massa (CM; CMzSTD), ângulo do tornozelo no toque (tornTOQ¬) em todos os esforços. A [Lac]Pico foi correlacionado com a frequência de passos (FP) nos dois primeiros esforços (p < 0,01), o comprimento do passo (CP) (p < 0,05), o TF, a velocidade do CM no toque (VyTOQ) e na retirada (VyRET) no primeiro esforço (p < 0,05). Desse modo, pode-se concluir que o RAST altera a mecânica de corrida e, além disso, o torn e CMzSTD pareceram ser fundamentais e influenciam diretamente no desempenho deste modelo. Em terceiro lugar, foram encontradas mudanças no SpringMass Model (SMM) durante o RAST. A força máxima vertical do CM (FZMAX) diminuiu (-10,3%; p < 0,05). O deslocamento vertical do CM (Z) aumentou (+60,5%; p < 0,01). Vertical Stiffness diminuiu (-42,9%; p < 0,01) e a Leg Stiffness, não mudou. A contração voluntária máxima (CVM) de extensão de joelho (-4,4%) e a ativação voluntária (AV%) (-8,5 %) não mudaram (p > 0,05), mas foram evidenciadas correlações entre da PP com a razão RMS / Mwave (r = -0,70), a PM e RMS (r = -0,77) juntamente com a razão RMS / Mwave (r = -0,75) no VL. Dessa forma, pode-se concluir que a redução do desempenho e as alterações no comportamento do esforços repetidos, dos padrões de movimento, e do SMM, podem estar fortemente ligadas às respostas neuromusculares periféricas. / The aim of this study was to determine the physiological behavior, biomechanical and fatigue process in Running Anaerobic Sprint Test (RAST). Sixteen individuals (mean ± SD, 22.1 ± 3.1 years, body weight 78.6 ± 22.9 kg and height 186.1 ± 10.1 cm) were volunteers for this study. Participants underwent biomechanical, physiological monitoring and neuromuscular evaluations. In all cases it was made a warming-up by 5 min. After 120 s, underwent six maximal efforts of 35 m separated by 10 s passive rest (RAST). During efforts, two cameras captured the performance by kinematic bidimensional analysis while another 12 cameras were positioned to kinematic tridimensional analysis at 25 35 m of each effort, after efforts were determined the concentrations of lactate ([Lac]). The TIP technique (Twitch Interpolation) was used for neuromuscular evaluations. The performance showed a difference from the fifth (5.1 ± 0.1 s) and sixth effort (5.4 ± 0.3 s; p <0.04), the index of decay performance models (IF % 19.2 ± 9.4%; IFREAL 19.3 ± 10.9%;). The fourth [Lac] (6.1 ± 1.9 mM) was different from all other (p < 0.01). Only the flight time (FT) to fifth effort (0.16 s ± 0.03) compared to the first and second (0.12 ± 0.01 s; 0.13 s ± 0.02; p < 0.05) showed differences. Thereby, the RAST offers stabilization performance and mechanical regardless of [Lac], so it can be a useful tool in the training process until the fourth effort. On study two, when tested correlations with performance, the best time (4.43 ± 0.37 s) interacted negatively with body center mass (BCM) standard deviation (CMzSTD), angle of ankle in touchdown (ankleTD) in all efforts. The [Lac] peak was correlated with step frequency (SF) in first and second efforts (p < 0.01), step length (SL) (p < 0.05), the FT, the BCM horizontal velocity on touchdown VyTD and take-off VyTO in first effort (p < 0.05). Thus, it can be concluded that the RAST changes the running mechanics and, in addition, the ankle and the CMzSTD appeared to be influence at performance. Changes were found in Mass-Spring Model (SMM) for RAST. The BCM vertical force (FZMAX) decreased (-10.3%; p < 0.05). The displacement of BCM (Z) increased (+ 60.5%; p < 0.01). Vertical Stiffness decreased (-42.9%; p < 0.01) and Leg Stiffness was not changed. The maximal knee extension force (-4.4%) and voluntary activation (AV%) (-8.5%) is not changed too (p > 0.05), but correlations were observed between the PP with reason RMS / Mwave (r = -0.70), the PM and RMS (r = -0.77) with the reason RMS / Mwave (r = -0.75) in VL. Thus, it can be concluded that the reduction of performance and changes in the behavior of repeated efforts, movement patterns, and SMM may be dependent of peripheral neuromuscular factors.

Flight decks of the future are being enhanced through improved avionics that adapt to both aircraft and operator state. Eye tracking allows for non-invasive analysis of pilot eye movements, from which a set of metrics can be derived to effectively and reliably characterize workload, this research will generate quantitative algorithms to classify pilot state through eye tracking metrics. Through various metrics within the realm of eye tracking, flight deck operation research is used to determine metric correlations between a pilot's workload and eye tracking metric patterns. The basic metrics within eye tracking, such as saccadic movement, fixations and link analysis provide clear measurable elements that experimenters analyzed to create a quantitative algorithm that reliably classifies operator workload. The study conducted at the University of Iowa's Operator Performance Lab 737-800 simulator was outfit with a Smarteye remote eye-tracking system that yielded gaze vector resolution down to 1 degree across the flight deck. Three levels of automation and 2 levels of outside visual conditions were changed on a KORD ILS approach between CAT II and CAT III visual conditions, and varying from full autopilot controlled by the pre-programmed flight management system, flight director guidance, and full manual approach with localizer and glide slope guidance. Initial subjective results indicated a successful variation in driving pilot workload across all 12 IFR pilots that were run through the 7 run testing sequence.